Chasing a BQ … and a toddler

Everything Is Awesome

Running lately has been pretty good. I squeezed in 12 miles Friday morning.

I also almost ran smack into a goose on that run. Now that was terrifying.

He didn’t chase me or hiss, but he did look utterly shocked. Ya know, if a goose can look shocked.

Saturday- 8 easy miles during nap time

Sunday-5 easy miles late

Yesterday, I had a glorious lunchtime run. 5 miles on a sunny, cloud-free day. It definitely beat staring at the wall in my cubicle and smelling the stale, stagnant air in there.

The view on my #runch

So, running has been going well. Lately, I’ll look down at my watch and I’ll see times that are faster than I’ve ever run before. Like 2-3 minutes per mile faster than what I would run 4 years ago.

So I get excited and I’m proud, but then I think, “but so and so runs this pace and 100 miles per week.”

Or, “Blogger x or blogger y can run a 3 hour marathon. They would think you’re slow.”

And then I feel like maybe I’m not so great. That I need to work harder, do more speed work, squeeze in some more miles. Get faster, dammit. You know, in my spare time.

I realize this comparison thing is ridiculous. But, I think it’s important to address because I’m guessing I’m not the only one. So when I start to compare, or feel like I need to keep up with other bloggers I stop and remind myself that EVERY BODY is different.

That I have come sofar.

I am doing the best I can.

Someone else’s awesomeness doesn’t diminish my awesomeness.

This is a hobby. It’s for fun. When I die, I won’t be remembered for running an 8 minute mile or a 7 minute mile. I’ll be remembered for being a great mom, wife, sister, friend, daughter, etc.

That this guy doesn’t care:

And this guy doesn’t care:

I’m awesome. And you’re awesome. (Are you hearing the Lego song now? Everything is awesome!!!)

And when I start this comparison crap, I will remember that. Yes, I can use others as inspiration to be the best me I can be, but that doesn’t diminish how great I am now and the long road it’s been to get here. It doesn’t take away from my greatness when others are great.

We’re all awesome! And we all have a story that is just as important as everyone else’s. Plus, no matter how speedy someone is or how great everything appears, no one’s life is perfect.

Now, go be awesome!

Do you ever get stuck comparing yourself to others? How do you turn it off?

29 thoughts on “Everything Is Awesome”

I’m really glad to hear other people think this way too! I’m definitely guilty of the negative comparisons and the occasional pity party myself. But I think the positives of knowing how well everyone else is doing really outweighs the negative comparisons. I can’t ever be like Shalane but maybe I can be more like this one blogger who runs 40 miles per week and qualified for Boston? Sure, none of us has the exact same variables so we shouldn’t put ourselves down for being less or doing less than others. But what I mean is that sometimes comparisons can make us better. If I didn’t feel bummed that so-and-so was running more than me or faster than me, then I’d just stay where I was and not work harder. I think it’s just that we see everyone else being awesome and want to be like them! There is definitely enough awesomeness for everyone to share, just like you said!

I LOVE THE LEGO SONG!!! Quite frankly, I would love to be as fast as some of the bloggers/IG runners I follow…but I know that I need to take my own time to get there. Everyone starts at a different place and has a completely different journey but each one is uniquely awesome!

You are definitely not the only one who thinks this way! I compare myself to others CONSTANTLY, and I hate it. But I’m also getting better at it, which is why I started blogging in the first place. I used to say to myself “you can’t start blogging until you get faster” but I realized that it’s all about the journey, not about trying to be better than everyone else all the time. Of course I want to be faster.. but I want to be faster for myself, not so I can say “I’m faster than so and so”

Oh and you ARE awesome! I can tell you are a great mom and really care about setting a good example for your precious little one! He’s so adorable.

Thanks, Maddie!! That’s really sweet of you to say 🙂 you’re awesome, too!
I always felt the same way, that I shouldn’t blog until I was faster. But, you’re right – it’s about the journey and being fast and meeting your goals, not to be “better” than anyone else.

I think everyone runs into that, especially with social media! It’s hard not to compare. I’ll also fall into the comparison trap with myself. I was running this x pace this long ago and now I’m only hitting y pace. It’s hard not to compare, but I think taking a step back and remembering why you run is great! It’s for the sake of being out there!

oh I’ve definitely done this before.!! I’ll come home feeling so awesome about my run, hop on the blogging world and than.. hit me like a bus, see everyone else’s awesome runs, and than I don’t feel so great anymore. I try not to compare myself to others, and I’m actually really good about it in non running life, but in running, it happens. (longest run on sentence ever) haha.
But what you said is so so right.!! Our loved ones don’t care 🙂 they don’t even know the difference between a 12 min pace or a 6 min pace.
Yes for being your own awesome.! no one can take that away

I’m guilty of this too! X blogger is so much faster – her “easy” runs are at my tempo pace…But you’re right everybody’s journey is different. We all start at a different point and have different obstacles to overcome but as long as we are moving forward that’s all that counts. And as a daughter of a sub-3 hour marathoner – I can’t tell you how uninterested I was in my Mom’s running times for the whole of my childhood LOL!

Oof, comparisons are rough. I tell myself that I shouldn’t compare myself to others but sometimes it is just so hard. Particularly when summer hits here and running in the 90+ weather slows me down. The only person we should compare ourselves to is ourselves and even then there are so many other factors that should be taken into account as well. Awesome post!

Ahh yes, the goose! It was terrifying! I usually do everything I can to avoid them, too. I was trying to sprint home and was just in a zone, which is why I ran right up on him. I think he didn’t hiss because he was as stunned as me. You better believe I immediately turned around and ran home the long way! Glad I’m not the only one who is scared of geese. They are EVIL.

I think we all struggle with this. I try to remind myself that no one else has my journey, so even though I’m slower than most people I’m still awesome because I run and push myself farther than a lot of other folks. Self love is one of my goals for this year 🙂 I had an awesome half marathon on Saturday in Nashville with my family even though the course was grueling!

I struggle with comparing myself too, but find that I’m way harder of myself than I should be. A good for instance: I ran my first marathon last year in 4:45 and some change, have been downplaying that accomplishment in the year since because I thought it was sooooo slow, and then last week learned that 4:45-ish was in fact the average finish time for women is 4:42. I’m actually average! Amazing! 🙂

Yes! Please don’t compare!! We are all our unique person and all have different circumstances! I used to compare as well and somehow I have managed to stop and it takes so much pressure off. Now I only compare to myself and only compete with myself. You ARE awesome.